Reviewing the discoverability and accessibility to data and information products linked to Essential Climate Variables

Abstract

Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) are geophysical records generated from systematic Earth Observations associated with climate variations, changes, and impacts. ECVs products support the data and information needs of international frameworks and policies such as the work of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). We map the main networks and initiatives publishing ECVs, by presenting an overview of existing satellite-based ECVs, their general data creation characteristics, discoverability and accessibility methods from an end-user perspective. We investigate key initiatives providing or coordinating access to ECV data records, such as the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), the Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS), Joint Working Group on Climate (WGClimate), the Remote Sensing Systems (REMSS), and the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative (ESA CCI). We find that ECV data discovery and access is difficult and time consuming due to the lack of common data and metadata catalogues. In addition, the selection of fit-for-purpose data records by end-users requires the implementation of interoperable standards and scalable data infrastructures to allow the generation of tailored applications and datadriven information products in support of decision-making processes.

Essential Variables for Environmental Monitoring: What Are the Possible Contributions of Earth Observation Data Cubes?

“…In terms of benefits, EODC can help to improve the accessibility, processing and use of EVs [18] providing access to analysis-ready data. It can therefore facilitate the generation of information and knowledge emphasizing the importance of suitable connections between data, applications and users [31,143].…”

“…ECVs are generated by different organizations (e.g., European Space Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and can be searched and accessed through the Global Observing Systems Information Center (GOSIC) that provides a single entry-point to ensure a harmonized and integrated search across various data holdings [50]. However, from a user-perspective accessing ECVs is still difficult because of the variety of data formats, access methodologies, spatial coordinates and temporal resolution [18] making them difficult to integrate with other datasets [51,52].…”

“…EVs can be understood as "a minimal set of variables that determine the system's state and developments, are crucial for predicting system developments, and allow us to define metrics that measure the trajectory of the system" [15]. Currently, EVs are already been defined for climate [16][17][18], biodiversity [19,20], water [21], oceans [22] and other domains have started the process such as agriculture [23], ecosystems [24], mountains, extractives [25], air quality [26] or renewable energies [27] as well as socio-economic [13,28]. Timely and reliable access to EVs can provide the basis for accountable scientific understanding and knowledge on environmental conditions to enhance informed and evidence-based policy process [29].…”

Towards integrated essential variables for sustainability

“…Another set of four papers explore new developments in specific EV domains. Miranda Espinosa, Giuliani, and Ray (2019) review the current status of Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) and their accessibility. Ranchin et al (2019) show how Essential sustainable Energy Variables (EEVs) are currently being developed.…”

Satellite Earth Observation for Essential Climate Variables Supporting Sustainable Development Goals: A Review on Applications

“…However, beyond these efforts, challenges remain because of the still tricky access to sEO data, and open, transparent, and robust methodologies [3,18,20]. Additionally, the discovery of and access to data continue to be complicated in terms of time and money [18,21], requiring a high capacity to manage sEO data [22]. It is evidenced that accessing and managing such data require extensive know-how in handling both sEO and statistical calculations.…”